Food Serving Finger Guard Device and Dispenser

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates generally to the field of finger guarding devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a food serving finger guard device and dispenser primarily comprised of a body, a finger protection member and a thumb protection member. One embodiment of the invention is also comprised of a dispenser. The finger protection member and thumb protection member cover the fingers and thumb of a user such that a user can grip a plate without risking their fingers or thumb touching the plate or food on the plate. The device also shields the user&#39;s thumb and fingers from being burned by a hot bottom surface of a plate. A dispenser may also be used to store and dispense a plurality of devices from the dispenser in a stacked fashion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/308,586, which was filed on Feb. 10, 2022, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of finger guarding devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a food serving finger guard device and dispenser primarily comprised of a body, further comprised of a finger protection member and a thumb protection member. One embodiment of the invention is also comprised of a dispenser. The finger protection member and thumb protection member cover the fingers and thumb of a user such that a user can grip a plate without risking their fingers or thumb touching the plate or food on the plate. The device also shields the user's thumb and fingers from being burned by a hot bottom surface of a plate. A dispenser may also be used to store and dispense a plurality of devices from the dispenser in a stacked fashion. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND

When serving food, the waiter or waitress often needs to place their thumb on the top of the plate near a customer's food, with their fingers and palm supporting the bottom of the plate. However, if the server's thumb contacts the food, it could become contaminated. Restaurants and their patrons highly value food safety. Further, hot plates may burn the hands of servers, causing the food to be dropped and plates to be shattered.

Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a means to improve the safety of food handling in a restaurant. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a food serving finger guard device and dispenser that prevents a server's hand and fingers from touching the plate or food on the plate. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a food serving finger guard device and dispenser that prevents a server's hand and fingers from touching the plate or food on the plate and also prevents a server from being burned by a hot plate.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a food serving finger guard device and dispenser. The device is primarily comprised of a body, further comprised of a finger protection member and a thumb protection member. One embodiment of the invention is also comprised of a dispenser. The finger protection member and thumb protection member cover the fingers and thumb of a user such that a user can grip a plate without risking their fingers or thumb touching the plate or food on the plate. The device also shields the user's thumb and fingers from being burned by a hot bottom surface of a plate. A dispenser may also be used to store and dispense a plurality of devices from the dispenser in a stacked fashion. Differing embodiments of the device may be disposable or reusable.

In this manner, the food serving finger guard device and dispenser of the present invention accomplishes all of the foregoing objectives and provides a means to improve the safety of food handling in a restaurant. To accomplish this, the device prevents a server's hand and fingers from touching a plate or food on the plate. In addition, the device also prevents a server from being burned by a hot plate.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a food serving finger guard device and dispenser. The device is primarily comprised of a body, further comprised of a finger protection member and a thumb protection member. One embodiment of the invention is also comprised of a dispenser. In differing embodiments, the body may be manufactured from a flexible or rigid material, such as plastic or rubber. The body material may further be heat resistant or a poor conductor (or non-conductor) of heat. The device may also be disposable or reusable. The device can be worn on a hand of a user while the user grips a plate, wherein the body prevents any portion of the hand of the user from contacting the plate or any food on the plate. Therefore, the plate and food remain sanitary. In addition, the body further shields a user's hand from any heat from the bottom surface of the plate.

The body is comprised of a finger protection member which covers the fingers (excluding the thumb) of the user. The top surface of the member may further be textured to provide grip to grip a plate to prevent a plate from slipping out of the hand of the user. The thumb protection member is further connected to a portion of the finger protection member, preferably via a folding area that wraps around the edge of a plate. The thumb protection member is further comprised of at least three side walls that shield the thumb of the user's hand. In this manner, the user's thumb is prevented from contacting a plate or any food on the plate. A bottom surface of the thumb protection member may further be textured to provide grip to grip a plate to prevent a plate from slipping out of the hand of the user.

A dispenser may be used to dispense a plurality of devices which are stored in a vertically stacked fashion within the dispenser. The dispenser has a body further comprised of a continuous opening and at least one spring that is stored within the body. In this manner, a plurality of stacked devices can be placed atop the spring such that a device protrudes outwards from the opening and can easily be grabbed by a user via the user placing their hand into the device. Therefore, a plurality of devices can be easily dispensed and used in a quick and efficient manner.

The present invention also includes a method of using the device. First, a user places their hand around the finger protection member and thumb protection member while the device the user wishes to grab is still stored on the vertical stack of devices in the dispenser. Then, a user partially closes their hand and lifts their hand upward while grasping the device to lift the device from the dispenser through the opening of the dispenser. Next, a user may grab a plate while the device is around their hand, wherein the bottom surface of the thumb protection member contacts a top surface of the plate that the user is holding using the device and the top surface of the finger protection member contacts the bottom surface of the plate. After a plate has been served to a customer, a disposable embodiment of the device can be removed from a user's hand and discarded. In a reusable embodiment of the device, the device can be removed from a user's hand, can be washed and placed back into the vertical stack of devices within the dispenser via the opening.

Accordingly, the food serving finger guard device and dispenser of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a means to improve the safety of food handling in a restaurant. The device prevents a server's hand and fingers from touching a plate or food on the plate. In addition, the device also prevents a server from being burned by a hot plate. In this manner, the food serving finger guard device and dispenser provides a novel solution to numerous issues faced in restaurants.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top and bottom view of one potential embodiment of a food serving finger guard device of the present invention while being used to hold a plate in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 2 illustrates perspective view of one potential embodiment of a food serving finger guard device and dispenser of the present invention while a vertical stack of a plurality of food serving finger guard devices are within the dispenser in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 3 illustrates perspective view of one potential embodiment of a food serving finger guard device and dispenser of the present invention while a user is removing a food serving finger guard device from the dispenser in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of one potential method of using one potential embodiment of a food serving finger guard device and dispenser of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for a means to improve the safety of food handling in a restaurant. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a food serving finger guard device and dispenser that prevents a server's hand and fingers from touching the plate or food on the plate. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a food serving finger guard device and dispenser that prevents a server's hand and fingers from touching the plate or food on the plate and also prevents a server from being burned by a hot plate.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a food serving finger guard device and dispenser primarily comprised of a body, further comprised of a finger protection member and a thumb protection member. One embodiment of the invention is also comprised of a dispenser. The body may be manufactured from a flexible or rigid material, such as plastic or rubber and may further be heat resistant or a poor conductor (or non-conductor) of heat. The device may also be disposable or reusable. The device can be worn on a hand of a user while the user grips a plate, wherein the body prevents any portion of the hand of the user from contacting the plate or any food on the plate. Therefore, the plate and food remain sanitary. In addition, the body further shields a user's hand from any heat from the bottom surface of the plate.

The body is comprised of a finger protection member which covers the fingers (excluding the thumb) of the user, wherein the top surface of the member may further be textured to provide grip to grip a plate to prevent a plate from slipping out of the hand of the user. The thumb protection member is further connected to a portion of the finger protection member, preferably via a folding area that wraps around the edge of a plate. The thumb protection member is further comprised of at least three side walls that shield the thumb of the user's hand. In this manner, the user's thumb is prevented from contacting a plate or any food on the plate. A bottom surface of the thumb protection member may further be textured to provide grip to grip a plate to prevent a plate from slipping out of the hand of the user.

A dispenser can be used to dispense a plurality of devices which are stored in a vertically stacked fashion within the dispenser. The dispenser has a body, further comprised of a continuous opening and at least one spring that is stored within the body. Accordingly, a plurality of stacked devices can be placed atop the spring such that a device protrudes outwards from the opening and can easily be grabbed by a user via the user placing their hand into the device. Therefore, a plurality of devices can be easily dispensed and used in a quick and efficient manner.

A method of using the device is also disclosed. First, a user places their hand around the finger protection member and thumb protection member while the device the user wishes to grab is still stored on the vertical stack of devices in the dispenser. Then, a user partially closes their hand and lifts their hand upward while grasping the device to lift the device from the dispenser through the opening of the dispenser. Next, a user may grab a plate while the device is around their hand, wherein the bottom surface of the thumb protection member contacts a top surface of the plate that the user is holding using the device and the top surface of the finger protection member contacts the bottom surface of the plate. After a plate has been served to a customer, a disposable embodiment of the device can be removed from a user's hand and discarded. In a reusable embodiment of the device, the device can be removed from a user's hand, can be washed and placed back into the vertical stack of devices within the dispenser via the opening.

Accordingly, the food serving finger guard device and dispenser of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a means to improve the safety of food handling in a restaurant. The device prevents a server's hand and fingers from touching a plate or food on the plate. In addition, the device also prevents a server from being burned by a hot plate. In this manner, the food serving finger guard device and dispenser provides a novel solution to numerous issues faced in restaurants.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a top and bottom view of one potential embodiment of a food serving finger guard device 100 of the present invention while being used to hold a plate in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The device 100 is primarily comprised of a body 110, further comprised of a finger protection member 120 and a thumb protection member 130. One embodiment of the invention is also comprised of a dispenser 200. In differing embodiments, the body 110 may be manufactured from a flexible or rigid material. The material may be a plastic material such as, but not limited to: acrylic, polycarbonate, polyethylene, thermoplastic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polylactic acid, acetal, nylon, fiberglass, recycled plastic, biodegradable plastic, etc. The material may also be a rubber material such as, but not limited to: Neoprene, silicone, nitrile, EPDM, Styrene-Butadiene, Butyl, natural, fluorosilicone, etc. The body 110 material may further be heat resistant or a poor conductor (or non-conductor) of heat. In addition, the device 100 may be single-use (disposable) or re-usable (washable) in various embodiments.

The device 100 can be worn a hand 10 of a user while a user grips a plate 20 with said hand 10. The body 110 prevents any portion of the hand 10 of the user from contacting the plate 20 or any food on the plate 20. In this manner, the plate 20 and food remain sanitary. The body 110 further shields a user's hand 10 from any heat from the bottom surface 26 of the plate 10.

The body 110 is comprised of a finger protection member 120. The finger protection member 120 may be any shape that covers the fingers (excluding the thumb) of the user. In a differing embodiment, the member 120 may also cover the palm of the user's hand 10. The bottom surface 134 of the member 130 may further be textured to provide grip to grip a plate 20 to prevent a plate 20 from slipping out of the hand 10 of the user.

The thumb protection member 130 is further connected to a portion of the finger protection member 120, preferably via a folding area 136 that wraps around the edge 22 of a plate 20. The thumb protection member 130 is further comprised of at least three side walls 132 that shield the thumb 12 of the user's hand 10 and prevent the thumb 12 from contacting a plate 10 or any food on the plate 20. A bottom surface 134 of the thumb protection member 130 may further be textured to provide grip to grip a plate 20 to prevent a plate 20 from slipping out of the hand 10 of the user.

In the preferred embodiment, a dispenser 200 is used to dispense a plurality of devices 100, as shown in FIG. 2 . The devices 100 are preferably stored in a vertically stacked fashion within the dispenser 200. The dispenser 200 has a body 210, further comprised of a continuous opening 212. At least one spring 220 is stored within the body 210 of the dispenser 200 such that the plurality of stacked devices 100 are placed atop the spring 220. In this manner, a device 100 always protrudes outwards from the opening 212 (as the stack of devices 100 is constantly pushed upwards from the body 210 via the spring 220 each time a device 100 is taken from the stack) such that it can easily be grabbed by a user via the user placing their hand 10 into the device 100. Therefore, a plurality of devices 100 can be easily dispensed and used in a quick and efficient manner.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of one potential method 300 of using one potential embodiment of a food serving finger guard device and dispenser 100 of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The present invention also includes a method 300 of using the device 100. First, a user places their hand 10 around the finger protection member 120 and thumb protection member 130 while the device 100 the user wishes to grab is still stored on the vertical stack 400 of devices 100 in the dispenser 200, as seen in FIG. 3 [Step 302]. A user then partially closes their hand 10 and lifts their hand 10 upward while grasping the device 100 to lift the device 100 from the dispenser 200 through the opening 212 of the dispenser 200, as also seen in FIG. 3 [Step 304]. Then, a user may grab a plate 10 while the device 100 is around their hand 10, wherein the bottom surface 134 of the thumb protection member 130 contacts a top surface 24 of the plate 20 that the user is holding using the device 100 and the top surface 122 of the finger protection member 120 contacts the bottom surface 26 of the plate 20 [Step 306]. After a plate 10 has been served to a customer, a disposable embodiment of the device 100 can be removed from a user's hand 10 and discarded [Step 308A]. In a reusable embodiment of the device 100, the device 100 can be removed from a user's hand 10, can be washed and place back into the vertical stack 400 of devices 100 within the dispenser 200 via the opening 212 [Step 308B].

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “food serving finger guard device and dispenser” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the food serving finger guard device and dispenser 100 of the present invention.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the food serving finger guard device and dispenser 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material of the food serving finger guard device and dispenser 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the food serving finger guard device and dispenser 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the food serving finger guard device and dispenser 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the food serving finger guard device and dispenser 100 may be of any size, shape and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A food serving finger guard device comprising: a body: a finger protection member; and a thumb protection member.
 2. The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of claim 1, wherein the body is comprised of a flexible material.
 3. The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of claim 2, wherein the body is comprised of a rubber material.
 4. The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of claim 3, wherein the body is comprised of a heat-resistant material.
 5. The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the finger protection member is textured.
 6. The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the thumb protection member is textured.
 7. The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of claim 1, wherein the finger protection member is connected to the thumb protection member via a folding area.
 8. A food serving finger guard device and dispenser comprising: a body; a finger protection member; a thumb protection member; and a dispenser comprised of a housing, a continuous opening and a spring.
 9. The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of claim 8, wherein the body is comprised of a rigid material.
 10. The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of claim 9, wherein the body is comprised of a plastic material.
 11. The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of claim 8, wherein the thumb protection member is comprised of a set of three sidewalls.
 12. The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of claim 8, wherein a top surface of the finger protection member is textured.
 13. The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of claim 8, wherein a bottom surface of the thumb protection member is textured.
 14. The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of claim 8, wherein the dispenser is sized and configured to house a plurality of the food serving finger guard devices sequentially.
 15. The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of claim 14, wherein the plurality of food serving finger guard devices are stacked in a vertical manner within the housing of the dispenser.
 16. The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of claim 15, wherein the plurality of food serving finger guard devices are stacked atop the spring within the housing.
 17. A method of using a food serving finger guard device and dispenser, the method comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of food serving finger guard devices within a dispenser, wherein each of the plurality of food serving finger guard devices comprise a finger protection member and a thumb protection member; placing a hand into the finger protection member and the thumb protection member of a select one of the plurality of food serving finger guard devices; partially closing and lifting the hand upward to lift the select one of the plurality of food serving finger guard devices from the dispenser; and grabbing a plate while the select one of the plurality of food serving finger guard devices is installed on the hand.
 18. The method of claim 17 further comprising a step of discarding the select one of the plurality of food serving finger guard devices after the plate has been served.
 19. The method of claim 17 further comprising a step of washing the select one of the plurality of food serving finger guard devices after the plate has been served.
 20. The method of claim 19 further comprising a step of returning the select one of the plurality of the food serving finger guard devices to the dispenser after the step of washing. 